The aim of this study is to better understand the phylogeography and evolution of the Lebanese oaks and to assess the convergence between their morpho-ecological and molecular characteristics. We investigated DNA sequence variation in four plastid markers (TrnH-psbA, ycf1, trnK-matK and PetD) of the seven species (three sections) occurring in Lebanon: Q. calliprinos, Q. infectoria, Q. kotschyana, Q. cedrorum, Q. cerris, Q. look, and Q. ithaburensis, in addition to Q. libani and Q. cerris from Syria, and possible hybrids.

Among the four markers, the TrnH-psbA and trnK-matK loci resulted in the best-resolved genealogies. Quercus calliprinos haplotypes clearly belong to the west Asian-eastern Mediterranean ‘WAHEA’ lineage. Sect. Cerris haplotypes are derived variants of the central Mediterranean ‘Cerris-Ilex’ lineage. Sect. Quercus haplotypes were less differentiated and in close connection with the Caucasian primary refugium of white oaks. Despite the low species-level resolution, a gradient in genetic diversity linked to the ecological plasticity of the sampled species was observed. A close relationship of Q. look with Q. cerris is confirmed. Quercus kotschyana seems an ancient stock of closely related and disjunct oak of sect. Quercus. Finally, our results confirm the relevance of the Levant region as an important biogeographical crossroad between continents, and its key role in stimulating diversification and preservation of ancient genepools. Important areas in Lebanon that should be taken into consideration in future conservation strategies are highlighted, to ensure a wider genetic potential of local oak species to face the current climate change.

这项研究的目的是更好地了解黎巴嫩橡树的系统地理学和进化，并评估其形态生态学和分子特征之间的融合。我们调查了发生在黎巴嫩的七个物种（三个部分）的四个质体标记（TrnH-psbA，ycf1，trnK- matK和PetD）中的DNA序列变异：Q. calliprinos，Q。infectoria，Q。kotschyana，Q。cedrorum，问：栎，问一下，并问：ithaburensis，除了Q. libani并问：栎来自叙利亚，并可能杂种。

在这四个标记中，TrnH-psbA和trnK-matK基因座的谱系解析最好。栎calliprinos单倍型显然属于西亚-地中海东部的“ WAHEA”谱系。教派。Cerris单倍型是地中海中部“ Cerris-Ilex”谱系的衍生变体。教派。栎的单倍型的分化程度较低，并且与白橡树的高加索初级保护区密切相关。尽管物种水平的分辨率较低，但仍观察到遗传多样性的梯度与所采样物种的生态可塑性有关。证实了Q. look与cer。cerris的密切关系。栎栎似乎是一门紧密相关且分离的橡树宗的古老种群。栎。最后，我们的结果证实了黎凡特地区作为各大洲之间重要的生物地理十字路口的重要性，以及其在刺激古代种质资源的多样化和保存方面的关键作用。强调了黎巴嫩今后的保护战略中应考虑的重要领域，以确保当地橡树种具有更大的遗传潜力来应对当前的气候变化。